RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 July 1924, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES ON SATURDAY'S MATCHES. PATE'A - KAPONGA GAME,. In view of the good form Kaponga have recently stiown, po-puiai opinion favoured their chances against the southern team, wncse victory came as a surprise to* iol lowers or tne competition. The latter, however, are by no means an easy team to neat. Tins is eyiaenced in the fact that altnousn tncy have-not heeirvery successim tins season, none or tne teams who have defeated them have clone so tiy b*g margins, un the sound defensive game they, piayed last -Saturday, together with the ability to rapidly turn cicrence into attack' evidenced by their backs, they • would- have nilly extended any' team in the competition. 'in-.the Pat-ea pack,,!/. Hunt showed up -us one of the best players on the ground—certainly his side’s most useful luiwaicl, fir- is exceptionally well trained, and is able to sustain a. hard, game. On his peiiorinaiiee Last Saturday he merited his inclusion in Lhe provincial twenty. Cornwall was also conspicuous’ as was .Jackson in a lesser degree. . Thorburn, the wing forwaid, did hefc seem the equal' of the'Kaponga rover.

Greig, Pa tea’s half, played a. fine game, and sent his backs away on several occasions. P. Wills, the right wing, made some sensational efforts to complete passing movements. He has pace, but conic! not leave his vis a vis, Paterson, when it came to race , for the line. Lardeili, the other wing, did not show so much in the offensive, but with Power, the centre, contributed a big share to the defence. The Kaponga forwards more than held t-heir own, hut have piayed better games. Neither in the scrums nor in. the/loose could they control the ball in their usual style. Kissick a?gain showeji as a battling forward of the best type, it is pleasing to note that he is again figuring in rep. football. He would be a tower of strength to any pack, as, besides possessing the ’ necessary strength lor gruelling forward work, he takes and fields the hall like a back, and uses Ins' head with the best of them,; He had a good partner •in Malone, though, the latter was in ore noticeable in loose than in tight work, this being' probably the result of his previous play as wing forward. C. /Evans, theming forward, did much -effective smothering, and was prominent in follow-up play. On at least one occasion he would have been responsible for a try had someone been with him. In the selection of the rep. team which defeated Wellington, Thoumine seems to have been preferred to Guthrie. The former is certainly a- good forward, but. it is questionable whether he is as successful a hooker as Guthrie.

Doyle is a- young player who is coming into prominence. In the last few games he has been noted in a lot of good work. He toils well when the packs are milling, and in following up has enough pace to cause uneasiness to a back waiting for a full ball. Collectively, the Kaponga backs, when in the attack, did not play up to standard, though except on occasion when Hunt went through they were in position when required in the defence. Lynskey; however, showed up,well in both phases and opened mafiy■'movements. He has. been very consistent of late, and is reported to be receiving the rep. selectors’ consideration. During the later stages of the game, Whalen, the full-hack, moved up to centre-. Judging by his exhibition, he should, if given the opportunity, prove as useful as an inside back as he has been in the fullback position. Paterson’s pace was very useful in recovering a'wkward 'situations, though in the attack he was not given much opportunity to use it. It was unfortunate that this, wing was not fed more often than the other, where Briggs, who made some determined attempts, was well mUirked by Lardeili, who proved a difficult man to pass. OKAIAWA V. STRATFORD. The game at Okinawa last Saturday was in doubt light up to the close. Stiattoid did not piay so- well as against riawera, and, il not lucky to get away with me points, would nave iiad only themselves to blame if Okaiawa liau stolen thej match, so to spieak.

.L-usr ,b:iUuciay :iu article oil "lYiciciug” appeared in tne £tar, and 1 think it would nay some of tne btiatfoid hacks ir they would apply some of th# hints to their play. ./Stratford heeled tiie ball in the great majority, of the scrums, but tune, and time again a back kicked clow litie I'd instead ol trying to open the play a little. Some or the O.kaiavva backs were inclined to kick too much, but at 'the .same time they showed a much better grasp of attacking play than did their opponents. Some day our backs will learn that the forwards give them the ball in the hope that scores will eventuate. Also that it is not so hard to run with the ball, and to learn when to pass in favourable positions. An old axiom of football was: “To gain ground you kicked, but yon had to run to score.” Since the new rules came into force the first part of that truth loses somewhat of its force, but the latter portion is truer than ever. Johnston was the only hack on view who' accomplished anything, and his run which resulted m a try for Okuiinva was as. good as anything one could see anywhere. The other hacks were chiefly concerned m taking the hall aiidkicking it as fair as they could. The forwards on both sides grafted hard, and kept the pace going. In the scrums Stratford got the hall in the majority of cases, but a peculiar thing was noticed, that was. whenever the referee had to put the ball in the scYunr the Okaiawa were always successful in hooking it. For Stratford Ivivell stod out in the forwards, McCullough, Walters jyicl Coiiltun being the best of the others. Parslow and Johnston wc-rc the best of the local pack, but all did well at times. IN AUCKLAND. Feeling is very keen in Auckland over the way the Northern city lias been treated in the matter of the All Blacks. Talking to a leading enthusiast.'.'who is also an ex-rep. player in Wellington, and therefore', not absolutely wedded to Aucklanders, a Star tepfesentativc was informed that C. Badele.v, acknowledged as probably one ofC'the best, perhaps the best, fiveeighths in the Dominion, was only brought down at the Inst moment- to Wellington, and was at once included in the team. There is no doubt that he will materially strengthen the hack team. But they up north are very sore about the non-inclusion of Wright, the half. It is generally considered up north that he is a champion, and thj.s was borne out by many enthusiasts in Web lingtoii when he played in the second trial. It was the opinion of heaps of keen experts, and in this the Star concurred. at the time noting the fact that he was considered better than Mill,

and that I\ light- should have been first choice for half-hack. Another cause for dissatisfaction was the non-inclusion of Knight. He is a remarkably fine ■forward', young, keen and tireless, and a_ player who learnt the game at the High, School. There is no doubt he was the typfi to- be selected. During his speech at the-send-off social to the Wairarapa members of the All Blacks. Mr E". Alc-Kemrie, one of the selectors, remarked that the 29 men who were going Home were by no means the best 29 foot-bailers in ‘New Zealand. “There , are far and away more than 29 left behind who coraid carry the All Black jersey, and the 29 men selected' can, therefore, consider themselves fortunate in catching the selectors’ eve,” said fnc speaker. Mr McKenzie impressed upon Messrs Harvey and Donald the fact that- the All Blacks had n sacred reputation to uphold, “The 190/5- All. Blacks lost one match, and we hope the 192-1 team will come back with a clean slate,” was a concluding "remark that was met with cheers. AUCKLAND REPS. OF 1923. It is worth noting that in the champion Auckland rep. team last year, which made such a fine i;eccr<l, no less than five of the backs were'., cent-re-thiee-qiiarters. The selector told a Star representative that he chose them, der spite much strong criticism, because he considered they had the natural football style. Results more than justified his choice.

One feature of the Aucklanders’ play that is /lot often seen in action is the •reverse pass. Many-teams are finished when the hall gets out- to the wing three-quarter, but school football teaches that player to watcffi his chance, and, if necessary, pass infield. Brown shows the way to make such tactics effective, and there is ii»> doubt, it is one of the most- striking and efficient moves to secure scores. It ought to be practised much oftener than is the case. TUKAPA v. WAIMATE. This match resulted in an extremely close contest, and if Waimate were somewhat lucky in one try scored they quite held their own, and the scores were a fair indication as to the merits of the sides. Unlike the last six or seven Saturdays of this season no rain fell, but the ground was rather greasy. The Waimate forwards were (far superior in weight to the visitors, but what Tukapa lacked in size, etc., they certainly made uii in pluck and endurance.

In aggressive play the Tukapa- backs were far more experienced than were Waimate, and quite often treated the spectators to clean and well-combined passing rushes. Waimate. backs are not up; to the standard of their forwards, otherwise the team would he well at the top of the competition. ■FAILINGS' IN MANAGEMENT. The officials of the Taranaki Union cannot he congratulated on their ..conduct of arrangements in connection with the rep. match on Wednesday. There was too much flavour of a countrified match, and it is high time that the union awakened out of sleep. The game was advertised to start at 2.30, but it was nearer 3 o’clock when a start was made. Unpunctuality cannot be condoned in such matches. Then there was no ball on the field when the teams filed out, and further delay was caused until a collide of balls were forthcoming. The arrangements for selling seats on the grandstand are of the crudest, and it is not asking too much, surely, that some of the union committee should supervise the. admission of "spectators to the grandstand.

Is it the revenue from the extra sixpences that blinds the union to the fitness of is it that they do not eare a hang for the comfort of those who, support the games ? On Wednesday the sale of tickets to the stand went on long after the stand was full. In consequence, a long row of spectators lined up at the fence in front of the stand. This resulted in the view of those on .the lower seats of the stand being entirely blocked. General /discomfort to all grandstand patrons ensued, and maledictions were hurled at those responsible. Quite rightly, too, and' if men are going to get on to the union they must carry out their duties properly. It seems to the writer that the delegates on- the ALanagement Committee lack vision. They are too much concerned with little pettifogging .details as regards c-1 t,i 1 it-;, while the larger affairs and a provincial policy are left, severely alone. Pinhead, ideas only cause dissatisfaction and • restlessness.

Another matter that will have to be tackled-sooner or later is that of the control of football in South Taranaki. There can he no question whatever that the interests of South Taranaki clubs are- somewhat sacrificed to those of the northern end. The present scheme of running the cup matches is abundant evidence of that fact, and the sooner those in authority waken up to that the better it will he for football in the province.

THE WELLINGTON MATCH. This annual fixture for Winter Show week is a great attraction, and has always been looked upon as one of the best of the year. This year it was a good and interesting match, and provided much excitement, but it was hardly on the plane of excellence which one has always associated with the match between the two old opponents, whose meeting has provided much of the host football seen on the local ground. Wogan played a good, solid game at centre. and was very safe iiv kicking, but- more often than not the play broke down before getting to him or was spoilt by the opposing players. Hawkins was the best of the wings, and.his kicking was very effective, but he did, not get many chances, and several that came his way he missed, p.mhahly through overeagerness. Hall at half was fair, and cut in nicely once or twice. As a rule lie got the hall out, but nothing much was made of,it when the hacks did secure possession. 1/he - full-back showed that on his day ho is a very fine goal kicker, but he was caught badly on several occasions. The five-eighths were useful, and showed up only occasionally. Of the forwards, Barclay. Pringle (on the line), Thomas, and Haddock wore the host. There was. however, a noticeable slackening towards the end of- the game. Coming to- the Taranaki team, the two High School hoys, Jeffries and Alexander, were easily the “stars” of the hack play. The latter played brilliantly. out in cleverly, and rarely failed to get a good, sure pass away. Tlis running was , determined, and straight, while .his collaring capacity saved his side on more than one occasion when an opposing hack had broken through. He was the best back on the around. Jeffries stood up to the heavy Wellington rushes gamely, ,and when he

got the ball from a pack that heeled anything’ hut cleanly made no mistake in getting it away. Johnston played, as usual, a keen, determined game, and made many brilliant dashes, two of which resulted iu almost lone-hand tries. lie, however, did not pass out as well as lie should, and consequently the wing three-quarters did not get a great number of opportunities. McGregor iu the first spell put in a number of fine runs, but the opposing defence was too sound. Ennis marie a good centre on the whole, and his try was the lesulfc of a groat, dashing run. Ross got. more opportunities, especially in the second spell, and if he had a little mote pace would piobablv have scored several tries. He*has plenty of dash, and is good on defence. Briar’s collaring at- full-back was not "always sound. His kicking on the whole was good, but he does not run iro as far as he might when the field is "clear. G. Taylor on the wing did some good work, and was mostly on the ball, but he did not appear to make as much of his onportimities as he might. The forwards as a whole were disappointing. There was; except on occasion?, an absence of the dash and vigour which has always been ■ characteristic of Taranaki packs. In the first spell Kissick played a great game, his footwork being' especially clever and controlled, but lie seemed to tire. The two who were on the hall most of the time and who showed most dash were Walter and Kivell. Robinson played a good, hard game throughout. He. however, did not make all the use of the chances offering. West, nla-ycd a fair game, and was useful for. his kicking, hut he did not show up so much as usual. As a team thev up so much as usual.

RUGBY UNION TESTS. NEW ZEALAND HOLDS ASHES. N.S.W. AFTER THEM. , Tt is now a matter of history that New Zealand avenged the loss of the “ashes” to N.S.W. in Sydney in i 922 by defeating the team which toured the Dominion last year in each of the three tests (wrote K.C.W. in Hie Sydney Sun last week). Without detracting from these victories. it must be remembered that Raymond, "Walker, Wogan, Grossman, Bym, Tailored, Friend, Bonner, Hesslein and Cooney were compelled to decline the invitation to tom- with the team. -With, these withdrawals the selectors, with the future of the game in view, chose young players, so that the experience of a tour in the “home of Rugby” would develop t-heir football powers. It was i therefore a comparatively light- and youthful, party which went forth to do honour- for the State.

In the first test at Dunedin the side did extremely well, and practically outplayed the fqemen, who, however, thanks to Sinclair’s accurate goal-kick-ing, won by 19 to 9. though each team registered three tries. And so alarmed were the public press and New Zealand selectors that radical, changes were made, in the home team, and a pack of giant virile iorwards was placed against us at Christchurch for the second match, and we were well beaten.

j AMENDING THE RULES. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. WHAT NEW ZEALAND WANTS. With the selection of the All Blacks accomplished, the New Zealand Rugby Union’s next- important task is to appoint a delegate to attend the Imperial Rugby. Conference, and to formulate in outline the policy which he should expound. It is uncertain who shall be selected by the Union for this important- mission./ At the time of the annual meeting (the name of Mr Sam Wilson, of Canterbury, was freely mentioned, but it is certain that Mr Yin Meredith, of Auckland, and "Mr James McLeod, of Taranaki, both experienced in Rugby administration, have, strong claims to be considered. One thing is certain: The delegate will not Ire the manager of the All Blacks. At'the. annual meet - ings of the union the feeling was very strong that the manager should give his" undivided attention to. the team, and that both a: manager and delegate should be sent to England. TOO MANY SUGGESTIONS. Regarding the subjects to be considered at the conference, the Wellington Union has given a lead to the parent body by making a series of suggestions, which have already been, published. They should provide a good basis for the New Zealand Union’s discussion .

The chief objection, that may be raised to the Wellington Union's suggestion? is that there are too many of them. If the New Zealand delegate at the conference tables a long list of suggested alterations to the rules he will as likely as not lie 'greeted by the eonseravtive English Union as a revolutionary and treated as one. On the ground of expediency alone it will profit New Zealand to put- forward a few suggestions only, and to put them forward .strongly. OFF-S fDE TXTER P RETA Tl ON.

It is likely that the All-Blacks’ tour will influence the discussion a great deal, because of the disputes over the rules that are hound co arise on the field. The old question of the wingforward will certainly M>me to the fore again if Porter occupies the position and adopts the tactics that he has shown in Wellington. And the general question of the off-side rule will he raised. The Wellington Fnion’s suggestion is put in these terms: “The present rule allows for an imaginary circle round a player wlm is waiting to receive the ball, within which an off-side player may not approach. This should he a semi-circle on the kicker’s side of the player waiting to receive the ball. Any off-side players who are behind their opponent who- is waiting to receive the ball not to he put on-side-bv the ball, touching an opponent.’’ This suggestion seems to be soundly based. The opinion is growing that the hacks in the Rugby of to-day are unfairly handicapped, not only by the wing-forward, hut by the- serum breakaways, and, in general, by all the loose-playing forwards who follow up fast, and then wait off-side. Judging by the reports of games elsewhere, the New Zealand forwnids are more generously treated by refe.reos than any others. KICK-INTO-TOUCH RULE.

It is noticeable that the Wellington Union’s suggestions omit any ref/Cenco to the kiek-ijito-toueh rule. This is only to be expected, for Wellington has consistently opposed the new rule, but it is a question that must lie discussed. New Zealand's chances of having it adopted generally appear to lie slight. It will depend on the All Blacks. If, as we have lenson to believe, the All Black forwards cause a radical change in English ideas of forward play, just as Hie 1205 rnpn revolutionised their bark play, the New Zealand delegate’s hand will he strengthened. For it will net he doubted iTiat the advantage rule has been the greatest factor in speeding-uo the forwards, and in forc-

ing them to combine with the hacks, and, occasionally, plav absolutely as backs play. ADVANTAGE RULE.

. Other suggestions are that if the ball is knocked on and recovered before n reaches the ground the referee. should not rule it a knock-on; and that the advantage rule should apply lo the lineout. Any objection to the "first is mere coiisoravtive obstinacy, and ft" the general merit ol the advantage rule be conceded, there can be no valid objection to extending it to include the line-on t-. OTHER SUGGESTIONS. "bb® Wellington Union also proposes: (1) that after a fair catch (.mark) is allowed, a scrummage be awarded : instead ol‘ a free-kick”. (.2) that- after a force down, the drop-out should be from the goal-line, instead of the 20-line", (3i that the opticiT ota free-kick or a scrummage be given in the case of a penalty for a scrummage; (4) that thf bicker of penalty kicks be allowed to. place thy ball for himself; (5) that the five-yards, throw-in from the touch-line be universally adopted. It is doubtful whether New Zealand will gain - anything by pressing these suggestions. Sound reasons can be advanced for most of them, bu.t against them it will be urged that they amount to “tinkering with the old rules.'" 4 and thereupon the stalwarts of England will sit bac kin their chairs and frown. Presumably their frowns will not intimidate the New Zealantr oeiega**, mit tbe effect of bringing forward a host of minor suggestions will he to prejudice, the chance of securing the adoption of the major suggestions, the alterations that we believe essential to the progress of the game.

Finally, it is clearly advisable that the New Zealand delegate should go with free hands, and that the. union should be content to express in outline the policy it wishes him to champion.

NOTES

Tt will be of interest to know that a Moascar Cup match will he played on Saturday next at New Plymouth, when Wanganui Technical College will challenge possession with New Plymouth High School. A clinking game is to be expected. " . In discussing the approaching tour of the All Blacks, a writer in the Birmingham Post says:—“Some clubs are still trying to evolve by plaving live three-quarters and seven t'orirards, a result of the last New Zeaalnd tour, when the visitors’ adoption of a wingforward—not the wing-forward spoken ot to-day, for he is really a winging forward—created dismay, and their extraordinary aptitude for securing ‘a shooting’ possession of the ball from the scrums caused some doubts as to the legitimacy of their play. It is stated that the team to commence its tour Fei'e in September will be mo/re powerful than its predecessor in the'' forward rank, and one can only wonder whether we are to see supermen, for on the previous occasion there were five, forwards over 6ft in height, and the weights were 15 stone, U stone 61b, whilst the average was 13 stone.

“The presence of the New Zealanders will give the game an added impetus, and in reflecting on this lastseason’s play, one wonders how the victorious English side would have fared against the all-conquering colonial team of 1905. Our play is traditionally the same- now as it was then. We have made no great- effort to- emulate New Zealand method. As an example, our back play is often very pretty but ineffective, and we wonder why. The New Zealander never parts with the ball until the moment of tackle, on the principle that the tackier is a- defender out of action as far as stopping the line is concerned. As a team one would rather plump for their superior cleverness, their general exercise of strategy and tactics, but whether' they were.faster 'than this year’s English and Scottish three-quarter lines is: doubtful. Speed has "been the essence of our game, and what an improvement the' New Zealanders will find in who are now keen opponents.”

AMENDED ARR ANGEMENTS. THE LIST OF FIXTURES. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received a cablegram prom its British representative, Mr C. J. Wray, giving the following amended list of matches for the All Blacks’ tour : September 13 —v. Devon, at the Rectory Ground, Devonport. 'September 18 —v. Cornwall, at Camborne. September 20 —v. Somerset. September 25—v. Gloucester. September 27—v. Swansea. October 2—v. Newport. October 4 —v. Leicester. October B—v. North Midlands, at Birmingham. Of toiler IU--v. C heshire, at Birkenhead. October 15—v. Durham, at Sunderland. .October IS —v. .Yorkshire, at Bradford. October 22 —v. Lancashire, at Manchester. October 25 —v. Cumberland, .at Carlisle. November I—v.1 —v. Ireland, at Dublin. November s—v. Ulster, at Belfast. November; S —v. Northumberland, at Newcastle. November 12—v. Cambridge. November 15 —v. London Counties, at Twickenham. November 20 —v. Oxford University. November,,22 —v. Cardiff’. November 21) —v. Wales, at "Swansea. December 2 —v. Llanelly. December 6—v. East Midlands, at Northampton. December 11—v. Warwickshire, at Coventry. Dccembe,!- 13—v. Combined Services, at" Twickenham. December I.7—v. Hampshire, at Portsmouth. December 27 —v. London Counties (second match). January 3 —v. England, at Twickenham.

Afterwards two matches will be played in France. The dates have not yet been decided.